Back from the rubble
CHURCH RISES AGAIN AFTER ‘YOLANDA‘
A church which was totally destroyed by the onslaught of typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013 is back from restoration six years after.
Rising from the rubble, the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Guiuan, Eastern Samar drew over a thousand people who were mostly survivors of the powerful storm to attend its reconsecration Mass celebrated by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia on Sunday.
“It is now back — strong, solid and will be able to endure for centuries ahead,” Caccia said in his homily during the Mass, which was also attended by Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone and other local officials.
The Guiuan Church, as it is popularly called, was built in 1844 and is known for its coral construction and unique seashell interior decoration. It is also one of the few churches in the Philippines that has retained a high degree of architectural integrity as well as its original retablo and other furnishings.
It was also nominated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines alongside other baroque churches, but was removed from the roster after it was severely damaged in 2013 by typhoon “Yolanda.”
While the church’s roof caved in and the facade was heavily damaged, the church’s stone walls remained unscathed as well as the floors and crypts.
Three years after, the National Museum of the Philippines started efforts to restore the devastated church. Help came from the United States government in 2014 as the US embassy committed $300,000 for its restoration through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs under the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation Program.
The restoration included feasibility and engineering studies as well as emergency stabilization measures to halt the deterioration of the coral walls and interiors. It also included masonry consolidation and restoration of the church and the adjacent bell tower, reconstruction of the roof and restoration of the retables, altars and interior finishes, including the repainting of the ceiling.
Dr. Ana Mariel Teresa Labrador of the National Museum said the
restoration brought back the church to the best condition possible “while remaining faithful to its perceived original intent or design.” Archbishop Caccia lauded the efforts of the Diocese of Borongan and the government to preserve a local heritage church.
“This is a sign that when we work hand in hand, miracles happen. And this is an encouragement to continue in this way,” he said.
The original church of Guiuan was made of wood and destroyed by fire was first constructed in the early part of the 18th century by the Franciscan friars.
The present stone church, which was dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception, was built by the early Jesuits and was renovated by adding a transept and baptistery in 1844.